My Sciatica is Playing Up Again!
When we talk about sciatica we are really specifically talking about the kind of lower back pain which travels down the back of the leg and goes past the knee. This kind of lower back pain will also often have signs like tingling or numbness down the leg to the toes as well as muscle weakness on the affected side.
Sciatica can be a very painful and concerning form of lower back pain, but there are proven treatments for it and it helps a lot to know when to apply them. When we’re talking about chronic sciatica we’re talking about sciatica that has been present for a few months, or has gone away and returned again. With this kind of pain exercise is key; most people in this situation need to take a bit more control of the problem.
How Do We Treat Sciatica?

By BruceBlaus (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Structured Approach to Sciatica
If you like a more structured approach there are some studies now showing that Tai Chi or Yoga classes might be more useful than other forms of exercise. If you’re not sure what you are doing is right for you or if you need a more targeted approach then supervised exercise will probably beat out all the rest. You can work with a chiropractor, an exercise physiologist or a physiotherapist for this. They’ll teach you the right way to move your body and they can modify exercises to suit your needs.
They can also help you determine what might be “good pain” and what might be “bad pain”, if your exercise makes your back pain a little worse but improves the symptoms in your legs that might be okay under supervision. If your exercise makes your leg tingle more, or makes numbness and weakness more noticeable then we will stop that exercise, we don’t want any extra pressure on these nerves.
The key here is that exercise works best for back pain that has been around for a while. You will reap the benefits as long as you choose something what works for you, something that you are interested in, and something that you can pursue long term.
Hi, I’m Michael; Chiropractor, Dad, science enthusiast, active weightlifter and keen sportsman. I work with busy and active people who are struggling with pain to find relief from their symptoms so that they can return to an active lifestyle, get through their work day and their workouts without having to pop a pill so that they can feel happier and healthier in their body.